SAGINAW TOWNSHIP, MI — Richard Syrek has reached the end of his 45-year career in education.

The 7-year Saginaw Intermediate School District superintendent will retire June 30. He announced his retirement in December.

The Saginaw ISD Board of Education in April hired Kathy Stewart, former Chesaning Union School District, superintendent, as his replacement.

During his tenure as the Saginaw ISD leader, he dealt with the financial crisis and dissolution of Buena Vista School District in 2013. Syrek redrew the boundaries of the district, integrating it into Saginaw, Bridgeport-Spaulding and Frankenmuth school districts.

For two decades prior to working at the Saginaw ISD, Syrek was the Swan Valley School District superintendent.

Syrek participated in a question and answer session with The Saginaw News about his career and the state of education in Saginaw County:

Question: How has education changed in Saginaw County and Michigan?

Answer: Technology has changed our classrooms and will continue to change the way we teach. We have seen more emphasis on testing, putting pressure on teachers and students to meet or exceed set standards. More emphasis is being put on science, and technology, engineering, and math education trying to encourage more students to find careers in these areas. Higher level thinking skills are being utilized in every classroom as we try to get students to apply what they have learned to all areas of education.

One area that needs more emphasis is the skilled trades. Businesses are demanding more and we tend to push college education when, for some students, the skilled trades offer better opportunities. Because of the world we now live in, today's students have to be proficient in areas that were not even dreamed of 45 years ago. To be considered successful, the educational demands are high.

Q: What are you most proud of?

A: I am most proud of the lives I've touched in my community. Because of the various positions I have held in my 45 years, I have been able to directly and indirectly affect the lives of many students, sometimes in small ways not perceptible, and sometimes in much more substantive ways. When I ponder that, I am humbled that I have had the opportunity to play such a part in the educational systems of Saginaw County.

Q: What will you miss the most?

A: You do not get into education unless you like kids, so I know I will miss the interaction with students. I will miss the involvement with other educators almost as much. I gained so much from my years of working with dedicated people who always wanted and strived for the best for their students. I also will miss being in the center of making decisions that positively affect students in Saginaw County.

Q: What challenges do Michigan schools face in the coming years?

A: We need to fund our schools adequately so that we can get back to one of the best states for K-12 education. That means more dollars for education but also it means that more sharing of resources between districts or possibly fewer districts will be a necessity. With that in mind, we need to reach all students and find ways to give them a quality education. We need to continue to work to find the best method(s) to move from the industrial age of teaching to the information age. Technology will help teachers reach all students as teachers individualize education to help every youngster meet the higher standards needed to be successful in this new age. Each child needs to be given a chance to succeed and the schools play a major part in that success. As we deal with more and more diversity in every aspect of education, the challenge is to find the right fit for each individual child.

Q: What kind of effect has Schools of Choice has on education?

A: Mostly, it has taken dollars from the city schools. If you look at Saginaw County, the bulk of the students who have opted for Schools of Choice have gone to the suburban schools from the city even though the city schools have many quality programs. That's the problem.

The good part of Schools of Choice is that it has allowed parents to decide where their children attend school. They are no longer restricted by school district boundaries. It has also forced districts to look at their curriculum and make sure it meets the requirements of today's educational system.

Q: What role should intermediate school districts play in education?

A: Our role is to service to local school districts. We need to offer less costly but quality services so that there is an economy of use in many areas of local education. The ISD needs to be the provider for most, if not all, non-instructional areas. In this way we help them financially and educationally.

I envision ISDs becoming more involved in school finances and in the education of students within the local districts. As districts begin having financial issues, I see ISDs working with the districts to help them make decisions to stay solvent. Looking at the district's budget with a critical eye that will help, and maybe push, districts to make the tough financial decisions. I also see the need for ISDs to work closely with the districts that have schools that are in the bottom 5 percent of performance. This could mean ISD personnel embedded within the school to help make the academic decisions needed to "turnaround" the school. This, to me, is a much better solution than placing these schools in the Education Achievement Authority (EAA). I much prefer keeping the decision making within the county where the problems are known and solutions can be initiated immediately.

— Lindsay Knake covers education for MLive/The Saginaw News. Follow her on twitter or contact her at 989-372-2498 or lknake@mlive.com.